Q: Do you have a motto in life, or words of wisdom you try to live by?

Stephanie Glaros

November 8, 2015

Updated: March 8, 2016 - 3:40 pm

Jen Crawford

Jen Crawford, St. Paul

I work for Juut Salonspa. Our owner, David Wagner started this philosophy of “Daymaking,” which is trying to make other people’s days, and in turn hopefully they’ll turn around and make other people’s days. So in each interaction and encounter, just trying to make sure that you keep in mind what that person could be going through and how you can impact their day, and hopefully having a positive turn on their day.

Glaros: Is that something that you carry with you outside of work as well?

I’ve worked there for many years, so that kind of engrains itself in you. Everyone has their good days and bad days, but it’s definitely something that I try to take to heart, and I think is a really great mission to pass along to other people.

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Kelly Wrobel, St. Paul

“Work to express, not impress.” I took singing lessons when I was in high school, and my coach told it to me. ‘Cuz I was so worried about how my voice sounded, and if I was doing things correctly. He said that it’s only about expressing yourself, not worrying about trying to impress others. Be your own person, instead of who you think others want you to be.

Glaros: Can you think of other times in your life when that’s helped you?

Today I was at an event, and it’s important to me to know what to say to my clients, and I was worried if I would say the right thing, or if they would be impressed by me. But then I was like, it’s not about that, just be who you are … I’m a people-pleaser. I try to make people happy even if it’s not something I want, so it’s definitely something I struggle with.

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Lafayette Tucker, Minneapolis

“It’s not the worst thing in the world.” I was going through a time in my life where I was separating from a family unit. And I felt like, because I was the head of the household, I had this philosophy that wouldn’t nothin’ work without me. I couldn’t be a better me without my family, or I couldn’t strive as hard as I wanted to without somebody to do it for, versus being a single man, having my own place.

I was so used to being able to move all the pieces and being the head of the household. When it changed, I went through a struggle period and a lot of depression for about a year. I felt like I had lost control of my identity… After the adjustment period, and the realization that my life had changed, it took me a minute to grasp it, because I was so stuck in the moment and in the past. And I sat down and I realized that, OK, I can still be a part of my children’s life. I realized that I just have to start over.

I can make it, I can achieve anything that I put my mind to. And that bad situation, it’s not the worst thing in the world, I can do it. … My new normal is I gotta be the most important person in the world. Because if I don’t take care of me, I can’t take care of my kids. And if it’s meant to be, then it’s going to be OK. And that’s how it turned out for me. My kids love me, and me and their mother have a wonderful relationship.